Rooms

Main Tukels

A tukel is the name that Ethiopians give to a house. In the case of Simien lodge, the tukel forms two rooms with two bathrooms. Each room is of a good quality Insidewith 2 large single beds (2m x 1m). There is a bathroom with shower. All rooms have under-floor heating by solar (which of course works when there is sun). Each room has a sheltered balcony. All rooms have fibreglass insulation to the ceiling, walls and floor. Remember we are a mountain lodge and nights can be chilly. So come prepared with warm clothes.

There are 26 main rooms. Twenty four roomshave twin beds and two have double beds. The bedding is quilts with pure white cotton sheets and extra blankets if needed.

The bathrooms have a shower (we do not have baths because of the scarcity of water in the dry season). Hot water is by solar with electricty backup.

Inside the Main Rooms

Inside the main rooms look like this. They are semi-circular, essentially half a tukel. Each room has a bathroom. The rooms all have tiled floors which are heated a few degrees by a solar system. In between the rows of tukels is a bank of forty square meters of solar panels. When there is sun, then hot water is automatically pumped through pipes underfloor, heating the room by a few degrees. However this is not intended to be a full central heating system. The lodge is at 3300 metres altitude and of course it is cold at this height, especially at night. But the system is enough to take off the chill, making the lodge a comfortable way to visit the Simiens.

All rooms have traditional Ethiopian decor. No 'chinese furniture' as so often found in Ethiopian hotels. There are original oil painings and traditional weave. Tea and coffee machines, wall safe and full length mirrors come as standard.

Family Rooms

The family rooms comprise of two rooms and a bathroom. The first room is a lounge with two single beds. This leads to the master bedroom which has one double bed. The bathroom is accessed from the master bedroom.

Prices

June

October

All

July

November

Other

August

January

Months

Main rooms Double/Twin occupancy

$115

$255

$230

Main Rooms Single Occupancy

$110

$240

$220

Family rooms

$165

$350

$325

Extra bed (any room)

$40

$75

$65

Breakfast, VAT, Service

Included

Included

Included

Lunch and Dinner

Buffet

$18

$18

$18

Set menu

$15

$15

$15

Simien Shuttle bus

Each way from Gonder/Simiens

One person

$80

$80

$80

2/3 persons

$130

$130

$130

More than 4 people

$180

$180

$180

Payment conditions:

Min 20% deposit to be paid two months before arrival with final payment within one month. Should the final payment not be made, the reservation will be cancelled without deposit refund and the rooms will be will reallocated.

Maximising the views

Many people ask us why we did not build on the escarpment and face the north-east. The answer is quite simple. Strong winds rise up the escarpment, especially in the wet season. The cliffs can be exposed. If we had built on the cliff edge we may have been subject to violent winds that would destroy the thatched roofs. Currently we have to re-thatch every three years. Also we want to limit the lights shinning down the escarpment that might interrupt the nocturnal hunting activities of the jackal, hyena and leopard.

Park Entrance

Please also note that the National Park is closed from sunset to sunrise. Please allow 30 minutes before sunset as being the latest time of arrival at the park gate in order to get to the lodge.

Entrance may be refused if not there on time. It is a 40 minute drive from the town of Debark - the lodge is actually inside the national park. See map on National Park page.

Guides and scouts

A guide and scout will be allocated to you or your group when you check in at the park office in Debark and get your park ticket. More details on the National Park page.

The fees are not included in room rates but you are not expected to pay for the guide and scout accommodation - they have their own facilities.